Introduction
Be content with the Holy Spirit’s revealed word.
- Joshua 2:15-18 – Some ancient writers looked at the scarlet cord as being a symbol of Jesus’ blood. Both saved. However, the Holy Spirit never made that connection.
- Exodus 27:19 – All the pegs of the tabernacle were to be bronze. M. R. DeHaam in The Tabernacle tries to connect the pegs to the resurrection in that they were in the group and also rose above the ground. Against, the Holy Spirit never makes this connection.
- Absurd example: The “David Church”
- Ezekiel 37:15-23 – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints interprets the two sticks as foretelling the Bible and Book of Mormon being joined.
- Hebrews 8:1-5 – The Holy Spirit makes the connection between the tabernacle and heaven.
- Hebrews 9:23; 10:1 – The Holy Spirit makes more connections for us.
- Be careful about making connections beyond what has been revealed.
- Romans 5:14-19 – The Holy Spirit connects Adam and Christ.
- II Peter 1:20
Study the context!
- “He made it!” – This means completely different things depending on the context.
- Examples:
- Ephesians 3:1-6 – We can read and understand!
- Examples from Dr. Mark Strauss:
- Matthew 5:7, 20; 6:1; 7:13-14
- Exegesis – to draw out the meaning of the text.
- Eisegesis – to read your own meaning into the text.
- Luke 10:29-37 – Augustine tried to read this story as an allegory, but that is going beyond the simple meaning of the story.